Medical ads to be banned

Gao Qiang, Executive Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health disclosed his decision on banning medical advertisement.

Gao said medical departments would be prohibited from conducting any certification for medical ads.

He told this to health care representatives who were attending the 3rd full session of the 10th National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.

He disclosed that this decision would be submitted to the State Council. He understood that the ban, if it was approved, would reduce the revenue sources of some media. However, he insisted that medical information should have been available free to the public and cashing in on commercials would tarnish the image of both the health care field but also the media.

An official with the General Administration of Industry and Commerce confirmed that pharmaceutical ads which reaped 12.7 billion yuan in 2003, generated more revenue than any other ads. His department investigated more than 40000 cases of illegal pharma ads from 2001 to 2004 and some 30000 cases of illegal ads for health care, the most among ads they probed into.

Gao's decision was applauded by the representatives of the top advisory body.

By People's Daily Online